YENDA PUBLIC SCHOOL
Student Leadership Policy
1. RATIONALE
The school is represented on a daily basis by the elected school leaders
therefore it is important to ensure that the students selected for this role
are of a high standard and that they are an appropriate role model for all
students.
2. ELECTION OF STUDENT TO LEADERSHIP POSITION
School Captains and Vice Captains
Students in Year 5 may nominate themselves for the office of School Captain.
All nominees will be required to prepare a speech that will be delivered to the
whole school. The speech will clearly detail why they should be elected school
captain and/or vice captain and how they will approach the role.
Students from Year 2 to Year 5 will vote and all staff will have one vote each.
They will vote after the year 5 students have delivered their speeches.
There will be a separate ballot paper for the boys and the girls. On the ballot
paper there will be the students’ names and photos.
Preferential voting is used. Students will write the number from 1 to the
amount of students nominated, in the boxes next to the year 5 students’
name and photo. For example if 10 students are nominated then they write
from 1 to 10.
Votes will be counted by the Principal, an Assistant Principal/s and a
representative of the School Council.
The School Captains and Vice Captains will be announced before Presentation
Night. On Presentation Night the School Captains and the Vice Captains will
receive their badges and will acknowledge their willingness to accept the
position with the Captains’ Pledge.
Captains’ Pledge
As School Captains of Yenda Public School,
I pledge myself to serve the students and teachers of the school
so that together we may continue to sustain excellent standard of learning,
citizenship and sportsmanship throughout the coming year.
I will do my best at all times to uphold the values of our school and maintain a
safe, happy and stimulating environment.
House Captains
All houses will hold a house meeting at the commencement of the school year
to elect the House Captains. There will only be one girl house captain and one
boy house captain elected from Year 6. If there are no Year 6 boys, then
two Year 6 girls may take the positions of House Captains and if there are no
Year 6 girls, then two boys may take the role of House Captain. If there are
no candidates from Year 6 then candidates from Year 5 may stand.
All students from Year 1 to Year 6 may vote in the election.
Teachers assigned to the house will assist in the conduct of a “Show of
Hands” ballot.
If a student has been elected as a School Captain or Vice Captain, they are
not eligible to stand for the position of House Captain.
House Captains will receive their badges at the next Friday’s assembly after
the election. Parents will be invited to attend their induction at the
assembly. Their names will be published in the Yenda Agenda.
House Captains’ Pledge
We the house captains of Yenda Public School pledge to lead our houses in a
spirit of good sportsmanship and fair play. We will honour our commitments
to our house and endeavour to promote the good name of Yenda Public School
on the sporting field.
Student Representative Council (SRC)
All Year 6 students are members of the SRC.
At the commencement of the school year the Principal will hold a SRC meeting
to elect the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the SRC.
Prior to the election, the Principal will state the roles of each position.
The Principal will conduct of a “Show of Hands” ballot for each position.
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
School Captains and Vice Captains
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Running weekly assemblies;
Running special assemblies;
Setting up assemblies;
Thank special guests;
Representing the school on special occasions.
Prior to nominating for the position of captain, all students should be clear that these
are the roles and responsibilities as well as the expectations relating to this important
student leadership role. Failure to comply, after the election, will result in the loss of
the position.
House Captains
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Sport shed duty;
Keep sport shed clean and tidy;
Organise sports equipment for Friday sport;
Organise teams for carnivals;
Motivate and manage teams Eg teach chants, crowd control;
Lead by example and encourage children to participate in events;
Keep up enthusiasm at the carnivals Eg cheer people on;
Attend carnivals;
Be enthusiastic;
Accept trophies and have acceptance speeches ready.
SRC
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Attend all SRC meetings;
Present ideas to the SRC Meeting;
Assist the Principal in the planning and implementation of SRC projects;
Assist other students when required;
Coordinate and run the hat draw;
Organise the fundraising event for the Year 6 gift.
Expectations of School Leaders
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Wearing of full school uniform and badge is mandatory.
All leaders are expected to model the highest standard of behaviour and to
lead by example.
Display the school Values at all times
4. LOSS OF POSITION
Following formal complaints by members of the school community and
depending on the severity of the behaviour, action will be taken as follows:
1. Warning and counselling by the Principal.
2. Loss of position (badge and privileges) for 2 weeks. The position remains
unfilled for these 2 weeks.
3. Loss of position (badge and privileges) for the rest of the year.
4. If the position is lost for the remainder of the year, or if a student leaves
the school, the position will be filled by the student who was voted as the
third preference.
The Principal will determine the decision (in consultation with relevant staff)
as to the length of the loss of position. If the behaviour is severe eg
inappropriate language or threatening behaviour towards a member of staff,
parent or visitor, immediate loss of position will occur. Appropriate
communication will advise parents of issues of concern.
Formal complaints regarding the performance of Student Leaders will be
conveyed to the Principal. The incident of misbehaviour will be recorded in
the Student Leader Behaviour Book and will be dealt with within 7 days
following the complaint.
Policy ratified by Yenda Public School Council 20th May 2008
Yenda Public School
School Captain Nomination Form
Students in Year 5 may nominate themselves for the office of School Captain.
All nominees will be required to prepare a speech that will be delivered at
morning assembly. The speech will clearly detail why they should be elected
school captains and how they will approach the role.
The school captains will be announced prior to Presentation Night. On
Presentation Night they will be presented with their badges and acknowledge
their willingness to accept the position with the Captains’ Pledge.
I ………………………………………………… nominate for the position of 2009 School Captain
 I feel that I show care and compassion for others at school
 Do the best I can in everything I do at school
 Am honest in all situations
 Show respect towards teachers, parents and other students
 Have an acceptable standard of behaviour in the classroom, the
playground and on excursions
 Wear the school uniform with pride
 Work and play safely
 Am a good role model for other students
 Work well as a team member
 Act fairly when dealing with others
 I acknowledge that I have not been on detention more than 5 times this
year
 I acknowledge that I have not been placed on the Bully Register in the
last year
Signed: ______________________________ Date: _______________
Witnessed by Principal: __________________________ Date: _____________
Yenda public school
Student Leadership Agreement
Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………….
I have read and discussed with my parents and I understand
the document “Responsibilities of Student Leaders” and I will
be proud to fulfil my duties as outlined.
I understand that failure to follow the requirements will lead
to the consequences outlined in the section titled “Loss of
Position.”
Signed……………………………………………………………………………... (Student)
Signed ……………………………………………………………………………… (Parent)
Yenda Public School
School Captain Nominations for 2009
Schedule
Week
Term 1
Term 4,
Week 1
Action
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Week 2
Week 3
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Week 5
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Week 6
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Week 7
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Week 9
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Discuss policy with Year 5 students
Meet with Year 5 students who wish to nominate for the position of
school captain for 2009.
Discuss with students the criteria that being a school captain entails.
Discuss the different qualities and attributes of a school captain. Go
through the nomination form.
Discuss with students the social impact of the nomination process.
Finalise the list of names of students who wish to nominate.
Students who are eligible to run for school captain will need to start
preparing their speeches. Discuss with students that each speech
should last approximately 2 minutes and will be presented to the
entire school (K-6). Students will have until the end of week 4 to
prepare and hand in their speeches for checking.
All speeches handed in to Year 5 teachers for checking on Monday of
week 5. If any students need extra advice on speeches, they need to
seek it out before week 5.
Year 5 teachers hand back speeches to students. Students are not
to change speeches after this.
Ensure that ballot papers are printed off with all candidates’ names
and photos.
Students present their speeches at morning assembly. Students
vote for the most appropriate candidate.
Year 2 to 5 and all staff are to vote.
The Principal, an AP/s and a School Council member are to
count votes.
Students and parents are notified of the School Captains.
Presentation Night – Presentation of Badges and Pledge.